The King - Chapter 378 beast tide

  Chapter 378 Beast Tide

  The harvest season is the most fascinating. Looking at the tumbling wheat waves, Hudson, who was holding his son, couldn't help showing a happy smile.

  With this bumper harvest, the newly migrated serfs should feel at ease. For the people at the bottom, there is nothing more reassuring than a bumper harvest.

  The grain output will not lie. After several years of hard work, the grain yield per mu of the territory has further increased, and the average yield per mu has exceeded 220 pounds.

   Whether it is the effect of fertilizer, or the effect of selective breeding, or maybe both, Hudson is not sure.

   But this is just a small problem, regardless of the specific reason, anyway, both hands must be grasped.

  The seeds should be of the highest quality, the marsh brand chemical fertilizers should continue to be used, and the farm composting technology should not be ignored.

  In fact, the yield per mu is also due to the low yield per mu of the newly developed mountainous areas, which hindered it. In the most fertile swamp farmland, the yield per mu even approached three hundred pounds.

  Of course, this data is only in the hands of the high-level people in the territory. Ordinary people only know that the mountainous areas have had a bumper harvest, but they really don't have a clear idea of ​​the extent of the bumper harvest.

  Even if a spy spread the news, everyone would only think that this was a case of a local harvest. Similar things have not happened before.

  For example: In a battlefield where two armies are fighting brutally, it will be easier to get a bumper harvest in the coming year.

   Another example: when there is heavy snow in winter, the grain output in the coming year will be higher.

  …

   It's just that everyone hasn't done in-depth research, lacks knowledge in related fields, and more often attributes this extraordinary thing to God's blessing.

  Hudson already has a lot of sacred aura, and he doesn't mind adding another one.

  The title of "Blessed by the Gods" doesn't need him to promote it, there are a bunch of tap fans to put it on his head.

  The most important thing is that the status is different.

  When such a thing happened during the period of the minor aristocrats, it was a matter of life and death, and a little carelessness would result in death.

   At this point, at best, it will cause people who are interested in secretly peeping. You won't send people over to **** it just because of a rumor that's not sure whether it's true or false.

  There is no shortage of food in the southeast province. The Dalton family may have turned against the Koslow family for other reasons, but it is absolutely impossible to start a noble war just to increase the grain yield by tens of catties per mu.

  The Blood Moon defense line that is currently being built, everyone has money to contribute money, and some people contribute people. What the Dalton family contributes is food.

  With the power of one family to supply hundreds of thousands of laborers with daily food and drink, the fact that the Dalton family is still able to sell food to the outside world is enough to explain the problem.

   Judging from the publicly available data, the Dalton family controls more than 30,000 square kilometers of land, with a population of over one million.

   Even if the actual data is doubled, it is not surprising. Hudson has not forgotten that the Dalton family still has islands overseas, and these sites are not under the jurisdiction of the kingdom.

   With such a strong family background, it is naturally not a big problem to supply hundreds of thousands of workers with rations. It is nothing more than taking the food that originally supported northern Xinjiang and using it to build a defense line.

  Without the burden of supplying supplies to northern Xinjiang, the overall burden on the nobles in the southeastern provinces has been greatly reduced.

  If it weren't for the sharp drop in food prices and the lack of enough buyers in the market, there wouldn't be so many minor nobles in financial crisis.

  If you delve deeper, you can also have a relationship with Hudson.

  Without the military grain consumption in the northern border, the grain production capacity in the southeastern province is seriously overcapacitated. However, the mountainous region, which has always been the largest grain buyer in the southeastern province, suddenly stopped purchasing grain.

  The double crises collided together, directly triggering the collapse of food prices. Don't say that it is compared with the war period, even before the war.

   On this issue, Hudson is also to blame. Looking at it from another perspective, the land reclamation plan in the mountainous territory is purely an increase in food.

  In the case of a slight decline in the overall population of the southeastern province, the continuous increase in food production capacity is undoubtedly the culprit of the crisis.

   You know what you know, but Master Hudson didn't mean to worry about everyone. If it is unsalable, it will be unsalable, anyway, he has no food to sell now.

  The current retail price of rye on the market is 2.5 copper coins per pound, which is 0.5 copper coins lower than the normal price before the war broke out.

  For food, such a price drop is already tragic. But this doesn't make any sense, only one-sixth of the price drop is far from being able to buy the bottom.

   What's more, with Hudson's personality, he is not allowed to do things like taking advantage of the fire. Even if you are purchasing grain reserves, you can only follow the market price, and you can't do things that deliberately lower the price.

  Then simply wait and discuss this issue when the warehouses of the nobles are full, it is often easier to achieve the goal.

   Reserve grain, reserve grain, and most importantly—reserve!

  No one stipulates that grain reserves must be piled up in their own warehouses.

  If conditions permit, it is also a good choice to temporarily put it in the neighbor's warehouse.

  The core factor is caused by the immaturity of the market.

  If there is excess grain production capacity in a mature commodity market, the downstream industrial chain can also be extended, for example: the development of aquaculture, wine making, food processing...

   Unfortunately, in these industries, the more they do, the more they lose.

  In a self-sufficient economy, everyone can produce these products by themselves. Except for those emerging nobles in the north who need to purchase, there is no market at all.

  It's a pity that these products are transported from the southeastern provinces to northern Xinjiang. Not to mention the long distance, the tolls along the way can make people bankrupt.

  If you can go by sea, the situation may be better. You can do business in coastal cities, but unfortunately there are only two ports in the north.

  One port is on the prairie, which is controlled by the Farland Kingdom among the Seven Kingdoms of the prairie; the other port is in the hands of Duke Hiero.

  In the entire southeastern province, only the Dalton family can do business, but it is only limited to the port.

   It is simply impossible to go deep into the inland to do business. The two major forces controlling the port are now counting on the monopoly to make huge profits.

  …

   "My lord, the king has sent an official document."

  Tom's words interrupted Hudson's family fun. He turned around and handed little Franz to Melissa, then took the official document and read it.

   "What's wrong with Hudson, did something happen again?"

  Melissa asked concerned.

  From the time the two got acquainted to now, there have not been a few days of peace. It's not fighting, it's preparing for war.

  Even after the war ended, there were a lot of problems, which made everyone feel uneasy.

   "No big deal!

  The Ministry of Military Affairs plans to station two legions in the southeastern province to prevent the Hessians from invading. This is asking for my opinion. "

   It was easy on the lips, but Hudson was not at all calm in his heart. Beware of the Hessians, this kind of excuse to fool children, he does not believe it ten thousand times.

  Even if war broke out immediately, if the Kingdom of Hesse wanted to invade the southeastern province, it had to open the road to the Blackstone Mountains first.

  There is a natural buffer zone, which is enough to buy time for the kingdom to dispatch troops, and there is no need to put two standing legions in the southeastern province.

  Using this kind of low-end excuse, it is better to say: food prices in the southeastern province are cheap, and placing the standing army here can purchase nearby, which can save military expenses.

   "Are you going to refuse?"

  Melissa asked curiously.

   I have heard and seen since I was a child, and I still have political sensitivities. It seems that it is nothing to put two standing corps in the southeastern province, but in fact it is the central government that is reaching out to the local government.

   It is easier to invite God than to send God away!

  Once these two legions are brought in, it will be very difficult to drive them out.

   "They came at the wrong time, if it was half a year ago, I wouldn't mind them coming to muddy the water.

  Unfortunately not now!

   It was not easy for us to ease the relationship with the Dalton family and establish a fragile balance. At this time, when a strong dragon inserts, the balance will definitely be broken.

  The Dalton family has long regarded the southeastern province as their back garden, and they will definitely not let people extend their tentacles in unless necessary. "

   Hudson said helplessly.

   Earlier, Caesar IV also reminded the nobles in the country to abandon their prejudices and prepare for war wholeheartedly. In just a blink of an eye, the central government wanted to intervene in local affairs again.

  Of course, it is not ruled out that this is really for the safety of the southeastern province, but the probability is too low.

  …

  Emerald Palace.

   "Your Majesty, except for Count Carles and Count Martinez, everyone else has rejected the kingdom's garrison."

   Minister of Military Affairs, Grand Duke Efiero frowned and reported.

   Conscience of heaven and earth, this time the Ministry of Military Affairs wrote this article, sincerely in order to strengthen border defense and reduce military expenditure by the way.

  Compared to the major grain-producing provinces in the south, the price of grain in the royal capital, which needs to transfer grain from other places, is 70% to 80% higher.

  A large number of troops gathered near the capital is a burden to the kingdom. With limited military expenditures, the Ministry of Military Affairs had to find ways to cut costs.

   After all the painstaking efforts, it was not understood at all. Except for the provinces of Kovasia and Obera, which were frightened by the Hessians, the other provinces in southern Xinjiang did not buy it at all.

   "Forget it, let them go! The road they choose is their own, and the consequences must be borne by themselves. In case a war breaks out in the future, they will cry."

   Caesar IV said angrily.

  The local nobles were worried that he, the king, would use the garrison to intervene in local affairs, but he had really restrained himself.

  Large provinces like the Southeast Province, with only two legions stationed, can at most gain some right to speak. How can they be qualified to compete for decision-making power in local affairs!

  It's a pity that no one will believe this word. After all, his political credibility as a king has not yet been established.

   "Your Majesty, the garrison is only a small problem. Since they can choose to refuse, it is naturally due to their strength.

   Compared with the great nobles in the north, the great nobles in the south are better at hiding their strength. It seems that they have put in all their strength in all previous wars, but no one knows how much they have actually hidden.

   Take the Liufeng family for example. Everyone thought that after the entire army was wiped out, the Liufeng family, whose vitality was severely injured, would be devastated, but their remaining strength still kept most of their interests.

  If the political influence was not too bad and we needed to give everyone an explanation, I am afraid that Duke Liufeng would not even give up the position of governor.

  Nominally, they have declined and become middle-class nobles, but the overall strength in their hands is still the No. 1 family in Fengyun Province.

  The situation of the Dalton family is similar. I thought that the Koslow family would challenge them after the war, but nothing happened.

  The Earl of Hudson's choice of silence is enough to prove the strength of the Dalton family.

  Nominally, the military strength of these great nobles in southern Xinjiang is far inferior to the families in northern Xinjiang, but the real gap may not be as great as we imagined. "

   It's not that the nobles of northern Xinjiang are honest, but they have been beaten by orcs all year round, and they can't hide their strength at all.

   In contrast, the great nobles in the south are different. They have played the role of reinforcements in all previous wars, and the deeper they hide, the better it is for the family.

  Calculating purely the military strength on the surface, the strength of the Dalton family is only one-third of the weakest family among the five noble families in northern Xinjiang, and the Liufeng family is only half of the weakest family among the five major families in northern Xinjiang.

  However, judging from the performance of the two major families, there is more than just this strength.

  After the apparent loss of the army, the organizational system can be restored immediately. Even if the combat power has declined, it is enough to prove that the family is strong.

  From the standpoint of the kingdom, the strength of the domestic nobles is undoubtedly a good thing.

   But for the king, that may not be the case. No monarch likes to hide his strength from his subordinates, and this kind of concealment often means uncontrollable.

   "Don't worry, Prime Minister, I am not a small-minded person. They have the confidence to stop the invasion of the Kingdom of Hesse, which is also a good thing for the Kingdom.

   There is no need to mention the matter of the garrison. Next, the kingdom's strategic focus is to recuperate and recover.

   Except for the newly recovered seven provinces of the Northland, which still need time to develop, and there is no requirement, the other provinces must replenish the noble private army within three years.

  Especially for these border provinces, they must be urged to expand their armies and prepare for war. The Ministry of Military Affairs will focus on this aspect of work, and we must make everyone ready for war at any time. "

   Caesar IV said calmly.

   Obviously, Caesar IV, who said he didn't care, was not really so generous. It can be seen from the content of the words that it is completely disgusting people under the banner of "for your own good".

  Arms expansion and preparations for war are easy to say, but these preparations require money. Unlike the serf soldiers who served without pay, the official private army of the nobles also needed to be paid.

   No matter how economical you are, you have to be able to support your family. Otherwise, those wandering knights would not have come to seek refuge.

   Let the private army system be restored, and the big nobles don't care. Originally, their organizational systems were all complete, and the difference was only in the reduction of combat effectiveness.

   The ones who were really injured were the little nobles below. Theoretically speaking, they should have recovered after two years of recuperation.

   Unfortunately, in the past two years, there has been an additional war repayment tax. This tax is not too much to be apportioned to individuals, but the tax is collected in pure cash and cannot be offset in kind.

   For nobles in areas with convenient transportation and well-developed commerce, there is not much pressure, just take the property and realize it.

  But for some aristocratic lords with blocked traffic, remote locations, and lack of means of monetization, this is a big trouble. If the nobles are stuck, the problem will be even more serious.

   Life is already difficult, so where is the spare energy to expand the army and prepare for war! It's good that Wang Guo didn't mention this issue, but if he reminded him, it would be a heavy burden.

  …

  Blood Moon County.

   "Are you sure you read correctly, the monsters in the Blackstone Mountains are gathering?"

  Governor Pierce asked solemnly.

  In recent days, cases of monsters attacking construction teams have been on the rise. In order to find out the situation, he had to send experts to go deep into the Blackstone Mountains to check the situation.

   There was a problem with this investigation. According to past experience, the gathering of a large number of monsters often means that a beast tide is about to break out.

   "Your Excellency, I have witnessed this incident with my own eyes. If my crack beast was not fast enough, I almost couldn't come back!"

   Magister Yuli said with lingering fear.

  Walking among the monsters for a while, and being able to come back intact is definitely the blessing of the Lord of Dawn.

   But whoever is unlucky and is targeted by a high-level monster in the Blackstone Mountains, the fate to meet him is to become poop.

   "How big is the herd?"

  Governor Pierce asked concerned.

   There are also three, six, nine grades of animal swarms, and some small animal swarms can be handled by small nobles in the countryside; it is not surprising that large animal swarms destroy counties and provinces.

  The largest beast horde in history, even had a record of destroying the country.

   "I don't know! Anyway, I saw hundreds of monsters, and there are monsters gathering here on the road.

  There are a lot of high-level monsters living in the Blackstone Mountains, and ordinary people can't get close to them at all. If you want to know the specific situation, you should ask the Earl of Hudson to check it! "

   Magister Yuli suggested.

   It's not that he wants to throw the blame away, it's just that it's too dangerous to go deep into the Black Rock Mountains now. On the way back, he saw a lot of mercenary groups, which turned into snacks for monsters.

  Don’t say that the magister was in danger in the past. Even the great magister can’t guarantee that he can escape unscathed when encountering these high-level monsters.

  Even the legendary strong man in the sanctuary has to run away when he encounters a herd of beasts. Once surrounded, it is also possible to bury the bones in the green hills.

  In the past years, not one or two masters died in the Black Rock Mountain Range.

  Dragon Knight was able to check in the past, not only because of the powerful fighting power of the dragon, but also because of the fast running of the dragon.

  Even high-level monsters rarely catch up with dragons. Being able to catch up does not mean being able to beat them. After all, Warcraft is not omnipotent.

   Gaining an advantage in speed, there will inevitably be certain disadvantages in other aspects, and it is impossible to take up all the talents.

   "Don't bother the two masters with one thing. Magister Yuli has a lot to do with it. It is not appropriate to leak it now. I will trouble you to go to the mountains to lead the way."

  Governor Pierce said a little tiredly.

   I am really tired. I thought I could take the opportunity of building the blood moon defense line to complete the further integration of the nobles in the province.

  It's a pity that the plan didn't change quickly, and the start of construction from the defense line has not been smooth. First, the kingdom's debt crisis broke out, and then the international situation became tense again.

  It seems that they are far away from the southeastern province, but none of them are related, and all of them require Governor Pierce to pay special attention to them.

   He just rejected the kingdom's garrison, and now there are signs of a beast tide, and he is not given a chance to relax at all.

  If he had known earlier that there was a wave of beasts waiting here, when the Ministry of Military Affairs proposed to garrison troops, he would not have refused so simply.

  In the situation where the scale of the beast horde is uncertain, it is definitely a great thing to have two more standing legions to fill the hole.

  Unfortunately, in politics, what is said cannot be undone. He just rejected the kingdom's garrison just now, and he can't change his position immediately and invite him back.

   "Forget it, for the safety of millions of people in the southeast province, I'll make a trip!"

   After pretending to be forceful, Magister Yuli turned around and left the gate. Summoned the split sound beast, went straight to the mountain collar.

  …

  (end of this chapter)